Accra, Ghana — 28 August 2026

A significant milestone has been recorded for Ghana, Africa and the global traditional medicine community following the publication of “The Mental Health Value of Traditional Medicine” in Nature Mental Health, bringing indigenous traditional medicine knowledge into an important international academic conversation.

The publication features Okogyeabibiduro Nana Kwadwo Obiri, an Indigenous Traditional Medicine Practitioner, alongside Prof. Turhan Canli, Dr. Bree and Prof. Patrick Amoateng as co-authors.

The achievement represents an important bridge between indigenous knowledge, traditional healing practices and modern scientific research, particularly in the growing global discussion about the contribution traditional medicine can make to mental health and wellbeing.

For Okogyeabibiduro Nana Kwadwo Obiri, participation in the publication is especially significant because it provides an opportunity for the knowledge and experiences of indigenous practitioners to be represented directly within international scholarly work.

Speaking on the significance of the publication, Okogyeabibiduro Nana Obiri described the achievement as extending beyond personal recognition.

“This is more than a publication; it is a bridge between tradition and science, Africa and the world, knowledge and healing.”

He said the publication should encourage traditional medicine practitioners, particularly younger practitioners, to recognise the importance of documentation, research, collaboration and scientific engagement in preserving and advancing indigenous knowledge.

The publication also strengthens calls for greater collaboration among traditional medicine practitioners, universities, researchers, health professionals and regulatory institutions. Such partnerships can help document indigenous knowledge appropriately, subject traditional practices to rigorous research, and identify areas where evidence-based traditional medicine may contribute to contemporary healthcare.

Okogyeabibiduro Nana Obiri expressed appreciation to his fellow co-authors and all those whose academic and professional contributions made the publication possible. He further dedicated the achievement to traditional medicine practitioners in Ghana and Africa whose accumulated knowledge has been preserved and transmitted across generations.

The milestone sends a strong message that indigenous practitioners should not only be regarded as subjects of research but can also participate as knowledge holders, collaborators and contributors to scholarly research.

For Ghana’s traditional medicine sector, the publication represents another opportunity to promote the documentation and scientific development of indigenous healthcare knowledge while preserving its cultural foundations.

HONOURING OUR ROOTS. INSPIRING THE FUTURE. HEALING THE WORLD.